Display device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a display device. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a display device. The display device includes a display panel including a display area and a non-display area. The display device further includes a plurality of first touch electrodes disposed in the display area and arranged in a first direction. The display device further includes a plurality of second touch electrodes disposed in the display area and arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The display device further includes a bridge portion disposed between the plurality of first touch electrodes and including a first touch connection line configured to connect the plurality of first touch electrodes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2021-0193485, filed on Dec. 30, 2021, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a display device.

Description of the Related Art

With the development of an information-oriented society, there is anincreasing demand for display devices for displaying images. Varioustypes of display devices such as a liquid crystal display device and anorganic light-emitting display device are used as the display devices.

In order to provide more diverse features to a user, the display devicerecognizes the user’s touch on a display panel and performs the inputprocessing based on the recognized touch.

For example, the touch-recognizable display device may include aplurality of touch electrodes disposed on or embedded in the displaypanel and detect touch coordinates, whether the user’s touch is disposedon the display panel, and the like by operating the touch electrodes.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Recently, there is an increasing demand for display panels with hightouch performance. Therefore, the display device adopts design forimproving the efficiency of the touch electrode itself. Touch electrodeshaving the same shape may be provided on the display panel and disposedat equal intervals to detect touching with the same touch property (orfunction) to meet the design requirements. Therefore, there is a problemin that touch performance of a touch region provided on an outerperipheral portion of a display area of the display panel is notuniform.

A benefit to be achieved by the present disclosure is to provide adisplay device having an arrangement structure of touch electrodes, inwhich touch sensing performance of a touch region of an outer peripheralportion of a display area of a display panel is equal to touch sensingperformance of a touch region of a non-outer peripheral portion.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a display deviceincludes: a display panel including a display area and a non-displayarea; a plurality of first touch electrodes disposed in the display areaand arranged in a first direction; a plurality of second touchelectrodes disposed in the display area and arranged in a seconddirection perpendicular to the first direction; and a bridge portiondisposed between the plurality of first touch electrodes and including afirst touch connection line configured to connect the plurality of firsttouch electrodes.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a display deviceincludes: a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed in a displayarea; a plurality of signal lines disposed in a non-display areapositioned outside the display area; a encapsulation part disposed onthe light-emitting element and the signal line; a plurality of firsttouch electrodes disposed on the encapsulation part in the display areaand arranged in a first direction; a plurality of second touchelectrodes disposed on the encapsulation part in the display area andarranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; anda connection portion disposed in a region between the plurality of firsttouch electrodes and a region between the plurality of second touchelectrodes.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the touchelectrode in the touch region of the outer peripheral portion of thedisplay area of the display panel is expanded, which makes it possibleto improve the touch sensing performance.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the touch sensingperformance of the touch electrode of the outer peripheral portion ofthe display area of the display panel is improved, which makes itpossible to ensure a degree of design freedom in terms of the shape ofthe outer peripheral portion of the display area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate aspects and embodiments of thedisclosure and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a display panel of the display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure in which a touch panel is embedded in thedisplay panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a touch electrode disposed on the display panelaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a touch electrode disposed on the display panelaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a mesh-type touch electrode in FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 illustrates a touch sensor structure of the touch panel accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a touch block of the display panel according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates the touch block according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate cutting lines of the display panel;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are a top plan view and a cross-sectional view of thedisplay panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are a top plan view and a cross-sectional view of adisplay panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Advantages and characteristics of the present disclosure and a method ofachieving the advantages and characteristics will be clear by referringto embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanyingdrawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to theembodiments disclosed herein but will be implemented in various forms.The embodiments are provided by way of example only so that thoseskilled in the art can fully understand the disclosures of the presentdisclosure and the scope of the present disclosure.

The shapes, sizes, ratios, angles, numbers, and the like illustrated inthe accompanying drawings for describing the embodiments of the presentdisclosure are merely examples, and the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. Like reference numerals generally denote like elementsthroughout the disclosure. Further, in the following description of thepresent disclosure, a detailed explanation of known related technologiesmay be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the subject matter ofthe present disclosure. The terms such as “including,” “having,” and“consist of” used herein are generally intended to allow othercomponents to be added unless the terms are used with the term “only”.Any references to singular may include plural unless expressly statedotherwise.

Components are interpreted to include an ordinary error range even ifnot expressly stated.

When the position relation between two parts is described using theterms such as “on”, “above”, “below”, and “next”, one or more parts maybe positioned between the two parts unless the terms are used with theterm “immediately” or “directly”.

Although the terms “first”, “second”, and the like are used fordescribing various components, these components are not confined bythese terms. These terms are merely used for distinguishing onecomponent from the other components. Therefore, a first component to bementioned below may be a second component in a technical concept of thepresent disclosure.

The features of various embodiments of the present disclosure can bepartially or entirely adhered to or combined with each other and can beinterlocked and operated in technically various ways, and theembodiments can be carried out independently of or in association witheach other.

In the present disclosure, a display apparatus may include a liquidcrystal module (LCM) including a display panel and a driver for drivingthe display panel, an organic light emitting display module (OLEDmodule), and a quantum dot module (QD module). In addition, the displayapparatus may also include equipment display apparatus includingcomplete product or final product of LCM, OLED or QD module, forexample, notebook computer, television, computer monitor, automotivedisplay apparatus, or other vehicle display apparatuses, and setelectronic devices or set device (set apparatus) such as mobileelectronic devices of smart phone or electronic pad.

Accordingly, the display apparatus according to the present disclosuremay include application products or set apparatuses such as finalproducts including the LCM, OLED or QD module as well as displayapparatuses such as LCM, OLED or QD module.

If needed, the LCM, OLED or QD module configured as the display panel,the driver, and the like may be expressed as the “display apparatus”,and the electronic device of the final product including the LCM, OLEDor QD module may be expressed as the “set apparatus”. For example, thedisplay apparatus may include a display panel of LCD, OLED or QD, and asource printed circuit board (source PCB) as a controller for drivingthe display panel. Meanwhile, the set apparatus may further include aset PCB as a set controller, which is electrically connected to thesource PCB, so as to control the entire set apparatus.

The display panel used for the present embodiment may be all types ofdisplay panels, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, an organiclight emitting diode OLED display panel, a quantum dot QD display panel,an electroluminescent display panel, and the like. The display panel isnot limited to a particular display panel including a flexible substratefor an OLED display panel and a backplane support structure disposedbeneath the display panel, thereby being capable of achieving bezelbending. The display panel used in the display apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure is not limited in shape and size.

More specifically, when the display panel is an OLED display panel, thedisplay panel may include a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of datalines, and a plurality of pixels PXL provided in respectiveintersections between the gate lines and the data lines. In addition,the display panel may further include an array including thin filmtransistors as elements for selectively applying a voltage to each ofthe pixels, an OLED layer disposed on the array, and an encapsulationsubstrate or an encapsulation layer disposed on the array to cover theOLED layer. The encapsulation layer protects the thin film transistorsand the OLED layer from external impact and suppresses the permeation ofmoisture or oxygen into the OLED layer. Layers formed on the array mayinclude an inorganic light emitting layer, for example, a nano-sizedmaterial layer or a quantum dot layer, and the like.

Hereinafter, there will be described in detail various configurations ofa display device, in which an extension portion of a touch electrode maybe disposed between touch blocks of the same type, touch performance,which is equal to touch performance between the touch blocks of the sametype, may be ensured, the design may be simplified, designstandardization may be implemented by the simplified design, andrepeatability of a touch block may be easily inspected.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 1 , the display device according to theembodiment of the present disclosure may provide both a function ofdisplaying images and a function of sensing touch.

To provide the image display function, the display device according tothe embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a display panelDISP on which a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate linesare disposed and a plurality of sub-pixels defined by the plurality ofdata lines and the plurality of gate lines is arranged; a data drivingcircuit DDC configured to operate the plurality of data lines; a gatedriving circuit GDC configured to operate the plurality of gate lines;and a display controller DCTR configured to control an operation of thedata driving circuit DDC and an operation of the gate driving circuitGDC.

The data driving circuit DDC, the gate driving circuit GDC, and thedisplay controller DCTR may be implemented as one or more separatecomponents. In some instances, two or more components, among the datadriving circuit DDC, the gate driving circuit GDC, and the displaycontroller DCTR, may be integrated into a single component. For example,the data driving circuit DDC and the display controller DCTR may beimplemented as a single integrated circuit chip (IC Chip).

To provide the touch sensing function, the display device according tothe embodiment of the present disclosure may include; a touch panel TSPincluding a plurality of touch electrodes; and a touch sensing circuitTSC configured to supply a touch driving signal TDS to the touch panelTSP, detect a touch sensing signal from the touch panel TSP, and sense atouch position (touch coordinate) or whether a user’s touch is disposedon the touch panel TSP on the basis of the detected touch sensingsignal.

For example, the touch sensing circuit TSC may include: a touch drivingcircuit TDC configured to supply the touch driving signal TDS to thetouch panel TSP and detect the touch sensing signal from the touch panelTSP; and a touch controller TCTR configured to sense a touch positionand/or whether the user’s touch is disposed on the touch panel TSP onthe basis of the touch sensing signal detected by the touch drivingcircuit TDC.

The touch driving circuit TDC may include a first circuit partconfigured to supply the touch driving signal TDS to the touch panelTSP, and a second circuit part configured to detect the touch sensingsignal from the touch panel TSP.

The touch driving circuit TDC and the touch controller TCTR may beimplemented as separate components or integrated into a single componentin some instances.

The data driving circuit DDC, the gate driving circuit GDC, and thetouch driving circuit TDC may each be implemented as one or moreintegrated circuits. The data driving circuit DDC, the gate drivingcircuit GDC, and the touch driving circuit TDC may be implemented as achip-on-glass (COG) type, a chip-on-film (COF) type, or a tape carrierpackage (TCP) type in a standpoint related to the electrical connectionwith the display panel DISP. The gate driving circuit GDC may also beimplemented as a gate-in-panel (GIP) type.

The circuit components DDC, GDC, and DCTR for the display operation andthe circuit components TDC and TCTR for the touch sensing may beimplemented as one or more separate components. In some instances, oneor more components, among the circuit components DDC, GDC, and DCTR forthe display operation, and one or more components, among the circuitcomponents TDC and TCTR for the touch sensing, may be integratedfunctionally and implemented as one or more components.

For example, the data driving circuit DDC and the touch driving circuitTDC may be integrated into one integrated circuit chip or two or moreintegrated circuit chips. In the case in which the data driving circuitDDC and the touch driving circuit TDC are integrated into the two ormore integrated circuit chips, the two or more integrated circuit chipsmay each have a data operating function and a touch operating function.

The display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosuremay be an organic light-emitting display device or a liquid crystaldisplay device. For example, various types of display panels DISP suchas an organic light-emitting display panel or a liquid crystal displaypanel may be used. Hereinafter, an example will be described in whichthe display panel DISP is an organic light-emitting display panel.

The touch panel TSP may include: a plurality of touch electrodes towhich the touch driving signal TDS may be applied or from which thetouch sensing signal may be detected; and a plurality of touch routinglines configured to connect the plurality of touch electrodes to thetouch driving circuit TDC.

The touch panel TSP may be disposed outside the display panel DISP. Forexample, the touch panel TSP and the display panel DISP may beseparately manufactured and then coupled or connected. The type of touchpanel TSP may be an externally-carried type or an add-on type, but thetype of touch panel TSP is not limited to these terms.

As another example, the touch panel TSP may be embedded in the displaypanel DISP. For example, at the time of manufacturing the display panelDISP, the touch sensor structure including the plurality of touchelectrodes and the plurality of touch routing lines, which constitutethe touch panel TSP, may be formed together with the signal lines andelectrodes for the display operation. The touch panel TSP may be calledan embedded type. For the convenience of description, an example will bedescribed below in which the touch panel TSP is the embedded type.

FIG. 2 illustrates a display panel of the display device according tothe embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 2 , the display panel DISP may include: an activearea (or display area) AA in which images are displayed; and anon-active area (or non-display area) NA which is an outer peripheralregion of a boundary line BL of an outer periphery of the active areaAA. The active area AA may be a display area or a screen part, and thenon-active area NA may be a non-display area or a bezel part, but thepresent disclosure is not limited to the terms.

The plurality of sub-pixels for the image display is arranged in theactive area (or display area) AA of the display panel DISP. Varioustypes of electrodes or signal lines for the display operation aredisposed in the active area.

The plurality of touch electrodes for the touch sensing and theplurality of touch routing lines electrically connected to the pluralityof touch electrodes may be disposed in the active area AA of the displaypanel DISP. Therefore, the active area AA may be called a touch sensingarea that enables the touch sensing.

Link lines extending from various types of signal lines disposed in theactive area AA may be disposed in the non-active area NA of the displaypanel DISP. Alternatively, link lines, which are electrically connectedto various types of signal lines disposed in the active area AA, andpads, which are electrically connected to the link lines, may bedisposed in the non-active area NA of the display panel DISP. The padsdisposed in the non-active area NA may be bonded (or attached) orelectrically connected to the display driving circuits (DDC, GDC, andthe like).

The link lines extending from the plurality of touch routing linesdisposed in the active area AA or the link lines electrically connectedto the plurality of touch routing lines disposed in the active area AAand the pads electrically connected to the link lines may be disposed inthe non-active area NA of the display panel DISP. The pads disposed inthe non-active area NA may be bonded (or attached) or electricallyconnected to the touch driving circuit TDC.

A portion expanded from a part of an outermost peripheral touchelectrode, among the plurality of touch electrodes disposed in theactive area AA, may be present in the non-active area NA. One or moreelectrodes (touch electrodes) formed of the same material of theplurality of touch electrodes disposed in the active area AA may bedisposed in the non-active area NA.

For example, all the plurality of touch electrodes disposed in thedisplay panel DISP may be present in the active area AA. Alternatively,some (e.g., the outermost peripheral touch electrodes) of the pluralityof touch electrodes disposed in the display panel DISP may be disposedin the non-active area NA. Alternatively, some (e.g., the outermostperipheral touch electrodes) of the plurality of touch electrodesdisposed in the display panel DISP may be disposed over the active areaAA and the non-active area NA.

With reference to FIG. 2 , the display panel DISP of the display deviceaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a damarea DA in which a dam is disposed to inhibit any layer (e.g., anencapsulation part on the organic light-emitting display panel) in theactive area AA from being collapsed.

The dam area DA may be positioned at a boundary point between the activearea AA and the non-active area NA or at any one point in the non-activearea NA that is the outer peripheral region of the active area AA.

The dam disposed in the dam area DA may be disposed while surroundingthe active area AA in all directions. Alternatively, the dam may bedisposed only at an outer peripheral portion of one or two or more parts(e.g., a portion where a layer, which is easily collapsed, is present)of the active area AA.

The dam disposed in the dam area DA may have a single patterncontinuously connected or disconnected two or more patterns. Inaddition, only a first dam may be disposed in the dam area DA. Two dams(e.g., first and second dams) may be disposed in the dam area DA. Threeor more dams may be disposed in the dam area DA. The contents of thepresent disclosure are not limited by the number of dams.

Only the first dam may be disposed in any one region in the dam area DA.Alternatively, both the first and second dams may be disposed in anotherregion.

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure in which a touch panel is embedded in thedisplay panel according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 3 , a plurality of sub-pixels SP is arranged on asubstrate SUB in the active area AA of the display panel DISP.

The sub-pixels SP may each include a light-emitting element ED, a firsttransistor T1 configured to operate the light-emitting element ED, asecond transistor T2 configured to transmit data voltage VDATA to afirst node N1 of the first transistor T1, and a storage capacitor Cstconfigured to maintain a predetermined voltage for one frame.

The first transistor T1 may include the first node N1 to which the datavoltage VDATA may be applied, a second node N2 electrically connected tothe light-emitting element ED, and a third node N3 to which a drivevoltage VDD is applied from a drive voltage line. The first node N1 maybe a gate node, the second node N2 may be a source node or drain node,and the third node N3 may be a drain node or source node. However, thepresent disclosure is not limited to the term. The first transistor T1may be a driving transistor for operating the light-emitting element ED.However, the present disclosure is not limited to the term.

The light-emitting element ED may include a first electrode (e.g., ananode electrode), a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode (e.g.,a cathode electrode). The first electrode may be electrically connectedto the second node N2 of the first transistor T1, and a base voltage VSSmay be applied to the second electrode.

The light-emitting layer of the light-emitting element ED may be anorganic light-emitting layer formed of an organic material. For example,the light-emitting element ED may be an organic light-emitting diode(OLED).

The ON/OFF process of the second transistor T2 is controlled by a scansignal SCAN applied through a gate line GL. The second transistor T2 maybe electrically connected between the first node N1 of the firsttransistor T1 and a data line DL. The second transistor T2 may be aswitching transistor, but the present disclosure is not limited to theterm.

When the second transistor T2 is turned on by the scan signal SCAN, thesecond transistor T2 transmits the data voltage VDATA, which is suppliedfrom the data line DL, to the first node N1 of the first transistor T1.

The storage capacitor Cst may be electrically connected between thefirst node N1 and the second node N2 of the first transistor T1.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the sub-pixels SP may each have a 2T1Cstructure including two transistors T1 and T2 and a single capacitorCst. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, the sub-pixels SP may each further include one or moretransistors or further include one or more capacitors.

The storage capacitor Cst is not a parasitic capacitor (e.g., Cgs, Cgd)that is an internal capacitor that may be present between the first nodeN1 and the second node N2 of the first transistor T1. However, thestorage capacitor Cst may be an external capacitor additionally designedoutside the first transistor T1.

The first transistor T1 and the second transistor T2 may each be ann-type transistor or a p-type transistor.

As described above, the circuit elements such as the light-emittingelement ED, the two or more transistors T1 and T2, and the one or morecapacitors Cst are disposed on the display panel DISP. The circuitelement (e.g., the light-emitting element ED) is vulnerable to outsidemoisture or oxygen. Therefore, an encapsulation part ENCAP may bedisposed on the display panel DISP in order to inhibit outside moistureor oxygen from penetrating into the circuit element (in particular, thelight-emitting element ED).

The encapsulation part ENCAP may be configured as a single or aplurality of layers. However, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the touch panelTSP may be formed on the encapsulation part ENCAP.

For example, in the display device, the touch sensor structure includingthe plurality of touch electrodes TE constituting the touch panel TSPmay be disposed on the encapsulation part ENCAP.

The touch driving signal TDS or the touch sensing signal may be appliedto the touch electrode TE during the touch sensing. Therefore,unnecessary parasitic capacitance may occur because a potentialdifference occurs between the touch electrode TE and the cathodeelectrode disposed with the encapsulation part ENCAP interposedtherebetween during the touch sensing. The parasitic capacitance maydegrade the touch sensitivity. Therefore, to reduce the parasiticcapacitance, a distance between the touch electrode TE and the cathodeelectrode may have a predetermined value (e.g., 1 µm) or more inconsideration of a panel thickness, a panel manufacturing process,display performance, and the like. However, the present disclosure isnot limited thereto. For example, a thickness of the encapsulation partENCAP may be at least 1 µm or more. However, the present disclosure isnot limited thereto.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a touch electrode disposed on the display panelaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , each of the touch electrodes TE disposed onthe display panel DISP may be an electrode metal having a plate shapehaving no opening portion. In this case, each of the touch electrodes TEmay be a transparent electrode. For example, each of the touchelectrodes TE may be formed of a transparent electrode material so thatlight beams emitted from the plurality of sub-pixels SP disposed belowthe touch electrodes TE may propagate upward while passing through thetouch electrodes TE.

As another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , each of the touchelectrodes TE disposed on the display panel DISP may be an electrodemetal EM having two or more opening portions OA by being patterned in amesh shape.

The electrode metal EM may be a portion substantially corresponding tothe touch electrode TE. The electrode metal EM may be a portion to whichthe touch driving signal TDS is applied or in which the touch sensingsignal is detected.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , in the case in which each of the touchelectrodes TE is an electrode metal EM patterned in a mesh shape, two ormore opening portions OA may be present in the region of the touchelectrode TE.

The two or more opening portions OA present in each of the touchelectrodes TE may correspond to the light-emitting areas of the one ormore sub-pixels SP. For example, the plurality of opening portions OAmay be paths along which the light beams emitted from the plurality ofsub-pixels SP disposed below the plurality of opening portions OApropagate upward. An example will be described below in which each ofthe touch electrodes TE is the mesh-type electrode metal EM.

The electrode metal EM corresponding to each of the touch electrodes TEmay be positioned on the bank disposed in a region that is not thelight-emitting areas of the two or more sub-pixels SP.

The method of forming several touch electrodes TE may form the severaltouch electrodes TE by widely forming the electrode metal EM in a meshshape, cutting the electrode metal EM in a predetermined pattern, andelectrically separating the electrode metals EM.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 , an outer peripheral shape of the touchelectrode TE may be a quadrangular shape such as a diamond or rhombicshape or various shapes such as a triangular, pentagonal, or hexagonalshape. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 6 illustrates a mesh-type touch electrode in FIG. 5 .

With reference to FIG. 6 , one or more dummy metals DM disposed in theregion of each of the touch electrodes TE and disconnected from themesh-type electrode metal EM.

The electrode metal EM may be a portion substantially corresponding tothe touch electrode TE. The electrode metal EM may be a portion to whichthe touch driving signal TDS is applied or in which the touch sensingsignal is detected. The dummy metal DM may be a portion disposed in theregion of the touch electrode TE. However, the dummy metal DM may be aportion to which no touch driving signal TDS is applied and in which notouch sensing signal is detected. For example, the dummy metal DM may bean electrically floating metal. Therefore, the electrode metal EM may beelectrically connected to the touch driving circuit TDC. However, thedummy metal DM may not be electrically connected to the touch drivingcircuit TDC.

In the entire regions of all the touch electrodes TE, one or more dummymetals DM may be disposed in a state in which the dummy metals DM aredisconnected from the electrode metal EM or the dummy metals DM are notconnected to the electrode metal EM.

As another embodiment of the present disclosure, only in the regions ofsome of the touch electrodes TE, among the all the touch electrodes TE,one or more dummy metals DM may be disposed in a state in which thedummy metals DM are disconnected from the electrode metal EM or thedummy metals DM are not connected to the electrode metal EM. Forexample, no dummy metal DM may be disposed in the regions of the some ofthe touch electrodes TE.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , regarding the function of the dummy metal DM,there may occur a problem in that a contour of the electrode metal EM isvisible on a screen when only the electrode metal EM is provided in amesh shape without one or more dummy metals DM in the region of thetouch electrode TE.

In contrast, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , when the one or more dummymetals DM are present in the region of the touch electrode TE, it ispossible to solve the problem in that the contour of the electrode metalEM is visible on the screen.

The touch sensitivity may be improved by adjusting a magnitude ofcapacitance for each of the touch electrodes TE by adjusting thepresence or absence of the dummy metal DM or the number of dummy metalsDM (a ratio of the dummy metal) for each of the touch electrodes TE.

The cut electrode metal EM may be formed as the dummy metal DM bycutting some points of the electrode metal EM formed in the region ofthe single touch electrode TE. For example, the electrode metal EM andthe dummy metal DM may be formed on the same layer and formed of thesame material.

The display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosuremay sense the touch on the basis of capacitance occurring on the touchelectrode TE.

The display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosuremay sense the touch by using a touch sensing method based onmutual-capacitance, as a touch sensing method based on capacitance.Alternatively, the display device may sense the touch by using a touchsensing method based on self-capacitance. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto.

In the case of the touch sensing method based on mutual-capacitance, theplurality of touch electrodes TE may include a driving touch electrode(transmitting/receiving touch electrode) to which the touch drivingsignal TDS is applied, and a sensing touch electrode (receiving touchelectrode) configured to detect the touch sensing signal and formcapacitance together with the driving touch electrode.

In the case of the touch sensing method based on the mutual-capacitance,the touch sensing circuit TSC senses the touch coordinate and/or whetherthe touch is disposed on the basis of a change in capacitance(mutual-capacitance) between the driving touch electrode and the sensingtouch electrode in accordance with the presence or absence of a pointersuch as a finger or a pen.

In the case of the touch sensing method based on self-capacitance, eachof the touch electrodes TE may serve as both the driving touch electrodeand the sensing touch electrode. For example, the touch sensing circuitTSC applies the touch driving signal TDS to the one or more touchelectrodes TE and detects the touch sensing signal through the touchelectrode TE to which the touch driving signal TDS is applied. Further,based on the detected touch sensing signal, the touch sensing circuitTSC senses the touch coordinate and/or whether the touch is formed byrecognizing a change in capacitance between the touch electrode TE andthe pointer such as the finger or the pen. In the case of the touchsensing method based on the self-capacitance, there is no differencebetween the driving touch electrode and the sensing touch electrode.

The display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosuremay sense the touch by using a touch sensing method based onmutual-capacitance. Alternatively, the display device may sense thetouch by using a touch sensing method based on self-capacitance.Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the display deviceperforms the touch sensing based on mutual-capacitance and has the touchsensor structure to perform the touch sensing based onmutual-capacitance.

FIG. 7 illustrates a touch sensor structure of the touch panel accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 7 , the touch sensor structure for performing thetouch sensing based on mutual-capacitance may include a plurality ofX-touch electrode lines X-TEL and a plurality of Y-touch electrode linesY-TEL. For example, the plurality of X-touch electrode lines X-TEL andthe plurality of Y-touch electrode lines Y-TEL may be positioned on theencapsulation part ENCAP.

The plurality of X-touch electrode lines X-TEL may be disposed in afirst direction, and the plurality of Y-touch electrode lines Y-TEL maybe disposed in a second direction different from the first direction.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the firstdirection and the second direction may be relatively differentdirections. For example, the first direction may be an x-axis direction,and the second direction may be a y-axis direction. On the contrary, thefirst direction may be the y-axis direction, and the second directionmay be the x-axis direction. In addition, the first direction and thesecond direction may be orthogonal to each other but may not beorthogonal to each other. In addition, according to some embodiments ofthe present disclosure, the row and column are relative factors, and therow and column may change to each other.

The plurality of X-touch electrode lines X-TEL may include severalX-touch electrodes X-TE electrically connected. The plurality of Y-touchelectrode lines Y-TEL may include several Y-touch electrodes Y-TEelectrically connected. For example, the plurality of X-touch electrodesX-TE and the plurality of Y-touch electrodes Y-TE may be electrodesincluded in the plurality of touch electrodes TE and separated infunctions.

For example, the plurality of X-touch electrodes X-TE constituting theplurality of X-touch electrode lines X-TEL may be the driving touchelectrodes. The plurality of Y-touch electrodes Y-TE constituting theplurality of Y-touch electrode lines Y-TEL may be the sensing touchelectrodes. For example, the plurality of X-touch electrode lines X-TELmay each be the driving touch electrode line. The plurality of Y-touchelectrode lines Y-TEL may each be the sensing touch electrode line.

On the contrary, the plurality of X-touch electrodes X-TE constitutingthe plurality of X-touch electrode lines X-TEL may be the sensing touchelectrodes. The plurality of Y-touch electrodes Y-TE constituting theplurality of Y-touch electrode lines Y-TEL may be the driving touchelectrodes. For example, the plurality of X-touch electrode lines X-TELmay each be the sensing touch electrode line. The plurality of Y-touchelectrode lines Y-TEL may each be the driving touch electrode line.

The touch sensor metal for the touch sensing may include a plurality oftouch routing lines TL in addition to the plurality of X-touch electrodelines X-TEL and the plurality of Y-touch electrode lines Y-TEL.

The plurality of touch routing lines TL may include one or more X-touchrouting lines X-TL respectively connected to the plurality of X-touchelectrode lines X-TEL, and one or more Y-touch routing lines Y-TLrespectively connected to the plurality of Y-touch electrode linesY-TEL.

FIG. 8 illustrates a touch block of the display panel according to theembodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 8 , the display device according to theembodiment of the present disclosure may include a plurality of touchblocks that serve as touch sensors.

The display panel according to the embodiment of the present disclosuremay include a notch NH. The notch NH is a quadrangular or triangularportion formed by shaping a part of a planar portion. However, the notchNH may be an edge having a quadrangular or triangular shape. Withreference to FIG. 8 , the notch NH is illustrated as having a flatportion and rounded portions disposed at two opposite ends of the flatportion. For example, the notch NH may have various shapes such as asemicircular shape or a polygonal shape, but the present disclosure isnot limited thereto. Components such as a camera may be positioned inthe notch NH. The display area is formed at the two opposite sides ofthe notch NH, such that the display area of the display device may befurther expanded. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with thedisplay device with the improved visibility.

The display panel of the display device according to the embodiment ofthe present disclosure may have rounded corners (or corner portions) C1,C2, C3, and C4. The notch NH and the rounded corners C1, C2, C3, and C4of the display panel DISP may have various shapes. The shapes of thenotch NH and the rounded corners are not limited to the shapesillustrated in the drawings.

The display panel DISP of the display device according to the embodimentof the present disclosure may include a plurality of touch blocks TB1and TB2. The plurality of touch blocks TB1 and TB2 may have differentareas. For example, the display panel may include a plurality of firsttouch blocks TB1 each having a first area, and a plurality of secondtouch blocks TB2 each having a second area smaller than the first area,but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, three ormore touch blocks TB1 and TB2 having different areas may be formed inaccordance with the shape of the display panel DISP.

The second touch blocks TB2 may be disposed in regions adjacent to thenotch NH and the rounded corners C1, C2, C3, and C4. For example, thesecond touch blocks TB2 may be disposed in the regions adjacent to therounded shape of the notch NH and the regions adjacent to the roundedcorners C1, C2, C3, and C4.

The first touch blocks TB1 may be disposed in the regions, except forthe regions in which the second touch blocks TB2 are disposed. Forexample, the second touch block TB2 may be a touch electrode formed byremoving a part of the first touch block TB1 and having a smaller areathan the first touch block TB1. For example, the second touch blocks TB2each having a smaller area than each of the first touch blocks TB1 aredisposed in the regions adjacent to the notch NH and the rounded cornersC1, C2, C3, and C4 in which it is difficult to arrange the first touchblocks TB1. Therefore, the entire display panel DISP may serve as thetouch sensor.

The touch driving circuit TDC may include a touch driving part and aswitching circuit part. The touch driving part may sequentially operatethe plurality of first touch blocks TB1 and the plurality of secondtouch blocks TB2 by supplying the touch driving signals TDS sequentiallyto the plurality of first touch blocks TB1 and the plurality of secondtouch blocks TB2. Thereafter, the touch driving part receives the touchsensing signals from the plurality of first touch blocks TB1 and theplurality of second touch blocks TB2 to which the touch driving signalsTDS are applied. The touch driving part may calculate whether the touchis formed, and the touch coordinate based on the touch sensing signalsreceived from the plurality of first touch blocks TB1 and the pluralityof second touch blocks TB2. For example, the touch driving signal TDSmay have a waveform of a pulse modulation signal having two or morevoltage levels. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The touch sensing signals received from the plurality of first touchblocks TB1 and the plurality of second touch blocks TB2 may varydepending on whether the touch is formed by a pointer such as a fingeror a pen at the periphery of the corresponding touch block. The touchdriving part may obtain whether the touch is formed and the touchcoordinate by detecting the amount of change in capacitance in the touchblocks TB1 and TB2 based on the touch sensing signals.

Sensing lines may be respectively connected to the plurality of firsttouch blocks TB1 and the plurality of second touch blocks TB2 in orderto supply the touch driving signals TDS to the plurality of first touchblocks TB1 and the plurality of second touch blocks TB2. The sensinglines may be grouped in a plurality of groups, and the plurality ofgroups may be connected to the touch blocks. The sensing linesrespectively connected to the plurality of first touch blocks TB1 andthe plurality of second touch blocks TB2 may be connected to theswitching circuit part of the touch drive circuit TDC, which isconfigured to sequentially connect the plurality of first touch blocksTB1 and the plurality of second touch blocks TB2 to the touch drivingpart in order to supply the touch driving signal TDS sequentially to theplurality of first touch blocks TB1 and the plurality of second touchblocks TB2. The switching circuit part may include at least onemultiplexer. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The plurality of first touch blocks TB1 and the plurality of secondtouch blocks TB2 may each be provided in the form of a touch electrode.However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The plurality offirst touch blocks TB1 and the plurality of second touch blocks TB2 mayeach have a size equal or corresponding to a size of a region of onesub-pixel SP or have a size larger than the size of the region of thesub-pixel SP. The plurality of first touch blocks TB1 and the pluralityof second touch blocks TB2 may be disposed in an in-cell type or anon-cell type in which the touch panel TSP is disposed and embedded inthe display panel DISP.

The display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosuremay operate in the display mode to provide the display function oroperate in the sensing mode to provide the touch sensing function. Forexample, the plurality of first touch blocks TB1 and the plurality ofsecond touch blocks TB2 may each operate as the touch sensor in thesensing section but may be used as an electrode in a display mode in adisplay section. For example, in the display section, the plurality offirst touch blocks TB1 and the plurality of second touch blocks TB2 mayeach operate as a common electrode to which a common voltage Vcom isapplied. The common voltage Vcom may be a voltage corresponding to apixel voltage applied to a pixel electrode.

The sensing lines may be respectively connected to the plurality offirst touch blocks TB 1 and the plurality of second touch blocks TB2 inorder to transmit the common voltages Vcom or the touch driving signalsTDS to the plurality of first touch blocks TB1 and the plurality ofsecond touch blocks TB2. Therefore, the touch driving signals TDSgenerated by the touch driving circuit TDC are transmitted to all orsome of the plurality of first touch blocks TB1 and the plurality ofsecond touch blocks TB2 through the sensing lines in the sensingsection. The common voltages Vcom generated by the touch driving circuitTDC may be applied to the plurality of first touch blocks TB1 and theplurality of second touch blocks TB2 through the sensing lines in thedisplay section. For example, in the sensing section of the displaydevice according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the touchdriving signals TDS may be applied in reverse proportion to the areas ofthe plurality of first touch blocks TB1 and the areas of the pluralityof second touch blocks TB2. Therefore, the touch driving signal TDS at ahigher voltage level may be applied to the second touch block TB2 havinga smaller area than the first touch block TB1, thereby improving thetouch sensitivity.

In the display section of the display device according to the embodimentof the present disclosure, the common voltages Vcom may be applied inproportion to the areas of the plurality of first touch blocks TB1 andthe areas of the plurality of second touch blocks TB2. For example,because the area of the first touch block TB1 is larger than the area ofthe second touch block TB2, a voltage level of the common voltage Vcomapplied to the second touch electrode TB2 may be lower than a voltagelevel of the common voltage Vcom applied to the first touch block TB1.Therefore, the common voltage Vcom at a low voltage level is applied tothe second touch block TB2 having a smaller area than the first touchblock TB1, which makes it possible to suppress the deterioration inimage quality caused by a resistance difference in accordance with thearea.

FIG. 9 illustrates the touch block according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 9 , the first touch block TB1 among the touchblocks TB1 and TB2 may be expresses as a unit touch block UTB. Forexample, the second touch block TB2 may be a touch electrode formed byremoving a part of the unit touch block UTB and having a smaller areathan the unit touch block UTB.

The unit touch block UTB may include a plurality of first touchelectrodes X-TE arranged in the first direction, a plurality of secondtouch electrodes Y-TE arranged in the second direction perpendicular tothe first direction, and bridge portions (or connection portions) CLPdisposed between the plurality of first touch electrodes X-TE arrangedin the first direction. The bridge portion CLP may include first touchconnection lines X-CL that connect the plurality of first touchelectrodes X-TE.

The bridge portions (or connection portions) CLP may further includesecond touch connection lines Y-CL configured to connect the pluralityof second touch electrodes Y-TE. The bridge portions CLP may be disposedin the region between the plurality of first touch electrodes X-TE andthe region between the plurality of second touch electrodes Y-TE. Forexample, the bridge portion CLP may be disposed in a region in which theregion between the plurality of first touch electrodes X-TE and theregion between the plurality of second touch electrodes Y-TE overlap.

The first touch connection line X-CL configured to connect the pluralityof first touch electrodes X-TE and the second touch connection line Y-CLconfigured to connect the plurality of second touch electrodes Y-TE maybe disposed in the bridge portion CLP. The first touch connection lineX-CL may be formed on a layer different from a layer on which theplurality of first touch electrodes X-TE are formed. For example, in oneembodiment the first touch connection line X-CL may be formed on a lowerlayer of or below the plurality of first touch electrodes X-TE. Inanother embodiment, the first touch connection line X-CL may be formedon an upper layer of or above the plurality of first touch electrodesX-TE. While there are two X-CL connection lines shown in FIG. 9 , it canbe appreciated that there could be a larger number of connection lines,for example four, six or more. The appropriate insulation layers will bepositioned between the connection line X-CL and the connection line Y-CLand the second touch electrodes Y-TE to provide electrical isolationbetween them. The second touch connection line Y-CL may be formed on alayer identical to the layer on which the plurality of second touchelectrodes Y-TE are formed. Because the second touch connection lineY-CL is formed on the same layer as the plurality of second touchelectrodes Y-TE, the second touch connection line Y-CL may be formed ofthe same material as the plurality of second touch electrodes Y-TE.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate cutting lines of the display panel.

With reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the display panel DISP and thetouch panel TSP according to the embodiment of the present disclosuremay have the notch NH or the rounded corners C1, C2, C3, and C4, asillustrated in FIG. 8 . The display panel DISP and the touch panel TSP,which are each provided in the form of a substrate, may each have aquadrangular shape. However, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. An outer peripheral line (or cutting line) CT in the presetdisplay area AA may be trimmed by using a laser in accordance with theproduct. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this method.Therefore, the display panel DISP and the touch panel TSP may have thenotch NH or the rounded corners C1, C2, C3, and C4.

The outer peripheral line (or cutting line) CT may traverse the unittouch block UTB. For example, the outer peripheral line CT may traversepartial regions of the first touch electrode X-TE, the second touchelectrode Y-TE, and/or the bridge portion CLP in the unit touch blockUTB.

With reference to FIG. 10A, the outer peripheral line CT may traversethe first touch electrode X-TE and the second touch electrode Y-TE andalso penetrate the bridge portion CLP. The outer peripheral line CT mayhave various circular arc shapes. However, the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. The unit touch block UTB trimmed by the laser may beformed as each of the rounded corners C1, C2, C3, and C4. The secondtouch block TB2 having a smaller area than the unit touch block UTB maybe implemented by removing a part of the unit touch block UTB.

With reference to FIG. 10B, the outer peripheral line CT may traversethe first touch electrode X-TE and the second touch electrode Y-TE andalso penetrate the bridge portion CLP. The outer peripheral line CT mayhave a shape formed by combining various circular arc shapes. However,the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The unit touch block UTBtrimmed by the laser may be formed as the notch NH. The second touchblock TB2 having a smaller area than the unit touch block UTB may beimplemented by removing a part of the unit touch block UTB.

In some cases, a first touch electrode X-TE that is traversed by anouter peripheral line CT may correspond with an outermost peripheraltouch electrode within a display area of a display panel. The outermostperipheral touch electrode may be adjacent to a notch or a non-displayarea of the display panel. An outermost peripheral touch electrode maybe expanded to comprise an expanded touch electrode having a larger areathan other touch electrodes within the display area that do not compriseoutermost peripheral touch electrodes. An outermost peripheral touchelectrode may be located at an outer peripheral portion of a displayarea of a display panel or at a boundary between a display area and anon-display area of the display panel.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are a top plan view and a cross-sectional view formedby cutting the display panel according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

With reference to FIG. 11A, the outer peripheral line CT may traverseany one bridge portion CLP and two adjacent first touch electrodes X-TEamong the plurality of first touch electrodes X-TE. The bridge portionCLP may be disposed between the plurality of first touch electrodes X-TEand include the first touch connection line X-CL configured to connectthe plurality of first touch electrodes X-TE. In addition, the bridgeportion CLP may be disposed between the plurality of second touchelectrodes Y-TE and include the second touch connection line Y-CLconfigured to connect the plurality of second touch electrodes Y-TE.

With reference to FIG. 11B, a touch part may be formed on an upperportion of the encapsulation part ENCAP including the first inorganicinsulating film 110, the organic insulating film 120, and the secondinorganic insulating film 130. The touch part may include the firsttouch electrode X-TE, the second touch electrode Y-TE, the first touchconnection electrode X-CL, and the second touch connection electrodeY-CL disposed between the first touch insulating layer 200, the secondtouch insulating layer 210, and the third touch insulating layer 240.For example, the first touch electrode X-TE and the second touchelectrode Y-TE may be disposed between the second touch insulating layer210 and the third touch insulating layer 240. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto.

In the bridge portion CLP, the first touch connection line X-CL may beformed between the first touch insulating layer 200 and the second touchinsulating layer 210 and connect the two adjacent first touch electrodesX-TE in the form of a bridge. In this example, there is a connectionline X-CL below the first touch electrodes X-TE, as can been seen in thecross-section of 11B. An electrical contact is formed from the firsttouch electrode X-TE to the connection line X-CL as shown. There mightalso be a connection line X-CL that is above the first touch electrodesX-TE in the same embodiment. In the bridge portion CLP, the second touchconnection line Y-CL may be disposed between the second touch insulatinglayer 210 and the third touch insulating layer 240. The first touchconnection line X-CL and the first touch electrode X-TE may be disposedon different layers. The second touch connection line Y-CL and thesecond touch electrode Y-TE may be disposed on the same layers. However,the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

While the outer peripheral line CT traversing any one bridge portion CLPis formed by the laser, the first touch connection line X-CL and/or thesecond touch connection line Y-CL disposed in the bridge portion CLPwhile traversing any one bridge portion CLP may be cut.

In FIG. 11A, the touch sensitivity may be measured at the periphery ofthe bridge portion CLP cut by the outer peripheral line CT. The touchsensitivity may be expressed as a ratio between the capacitance when nofinger touch is formed and the capacitance when the finger touch isformed. The touch sensitivity of the second touch block TB2 in the FIG.11A was measured as 13.1%.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are a top plan view and a cross-sectional view of adisplay panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 12A, the first touch connection line X-CL mayconnect the two adjacent first touch electrodes X-TE among the pluralityof first touch electrodes X-TE in any one bridge portion (or connectionportion) CLP traversed by the outer peripheral line CT. For example, thefirst touch connection line X-CL of the bridge portion CLP may be formedof the same material as the first touch electrode X-TE. The first touchconnection line X-CL of the bridge portion CLP may be disposed on thesame layer as the plurality of first touch electrodes X-TE. The firsttouch connection line X-CL of the bridge portion CLP may be an electrodemetal EM extending from the first touch electrode X-TE.

With reference to FIG. 12B, a touch part may be formed on an upperportion of the encapsulation part ENCAP including the first inorganicinsulating film 110, the organic insulating film 120, and the secondinorganic insulating film 130. The touch part may include the touchinsulating layers (the first touch insulating layer 200, the secondtouch insulating layer 210, the third touch insulating layer 240), thefirst touch electrode X-TE and the first touch connection electrode X-CLdisposed between the second touch insulating layer 210, and the thirdtouch insulating layer 240. For example, the first touch electrode X-TEand the first touch connection line X-CL may be disposed on the samelayer.

In the bridge portion CLP, the first touch connection line X-CL may beformed between the second touch insulating layer 210 and the third touchinsulating layer 240 and connect the two adjacent first touch electrodesX-TE. In the bridge portion CLP, the first touch connection line X-CLmay be disposed on the same layer as the first touch electrode X-TE.However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. A length (orwidth) of the first touch connection line X-CL in the second directionmay be equal to a height (or width or length) of the adjacent firsttouch electrode X-TE in the second direction.

While the outer peripheral line CT traversing any one bridge portion CLPis formed by the laser, the first touch connection line X-CL disposed inthe bridge portion CLP while traversing any one bridge portion CLP maybe cut.

In FIG. 12A, the touch sensitivity may be measured at the periphery ofthe bridge portion CLP cut by the outer peripheral line CT. The touchsensitivity may be expressed as a ratio between the capacitance when nofinger touch is formed and the capacitance when the finger touch isformed. The touch sensitivity of the second touch block TB2 in the FIG.12A was measured as 14.5%. For example, the touch sensitivity, which ismeasured after the first touch connection line X-CL is extended from thefirst touch electrode X-TE and disposed in the bridge portion CLP, is14.5% that is increased by about 1.4% from 13.1% that is the touchsensitivity measured when the first touch connection line X-CL is notextended from the first touch electrode X-TE in the bridge portion CLP.

The first touch connection line X-CL of the bridge portion CLPillustrated in FIG. 12B may be formed of the same material as theelectrode metal EM of the first touch electrode X-TE. The first touchconnection line X-CL of the bridge portion CLP may have the same shapeas the electrode metal EM of the first touch electrode X-TE. However,the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first touchconnection line X-CL may be an extension portion of the first touchelectrode X-TE.

According to the display device according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the touch electrode or the touch connection line inthe touch region adjoining the outer peripheral line of the display areaof the display panel is expanded, which makes it possible to improve thetouch sensing ability. The touch sensing ability is improved in theouter peripheral portion of the display area of the display panel, whichmakes it possible to ensure a degree of design freedom in terms of theshape of the outer peripheral portion of the display area.

The embodiments of the present disclosure can also be described asfollows.

A display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosurecomprises a display panel including a display area and a non-displayarea. The display device further includes a plurality of first touchelectrodes disposed in the display area and arranged in a firstdirection. The display device further includes a plurality of secondtouch electrodes disposed in the display area and arranged in a seconddirection perpendicular to the first direction. The display devicefurther includes a bridge portion disposed between the plurality offirst touch electrodes and configured to accommodate a first touchconnection line configured to connect the plurality of first touchelectrodes.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the bridgeportion may further include a second touch connection line configured toconnect the plurality of second touch electrodes.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first touchconnection line and the second touch connection line may be disposed ondifferent layers.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the secondtouch connection line may be disposed on the same layer as the pluralityof second touch electrodes.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first touchconnection line may be disposed on the same layer as the plurality offirst touch electrodes.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a length of thefirst touch connection line in the second direction may be equal to aheight of the plurality of first touch electrodes.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first touchconnection line may be formed of the same material and has the sameshape as the plurality of first touch electrodes.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a displaydevice comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed in adisplay area. The display device further includes a plurality of signallines disposed in a non-display area positioned outside the displayarea. The display device further includes a encapsulation part disposedon the light-emitting element and the signal line. The display devicefurther includes a plurality of first touch electrodes disposed on theencapsulation part in the display area and arranged in a firstdirection. The display device further includes a plurality of secondtouch electrodes disposed on the encapsulation part in the display areaand arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.The display device further includes a connection portion disposed in aregion between the plurality of first touch electrodes and a regionbetween the plurality of second touch electrodes.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the connectionportion, which intersects an outer peripheral line of the display area,may be formed of the same material as the plurality of first touchelectrodes.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the connectionportion may be disposed on the same layer as the plurality of firsttouch electrodes.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the adjacentelectrode metals of the plurality of first touch electrodes may extendand may be connected to each other in the connection portion thatintersects an outer peripheral line of the display area.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the connectionportion may further include: a first touch connection line configured toconnect the plurality of first touch electrodes; and a second touchconnection line disposed on a layer different from a layer on which thefirst touch connection line is disposed, the second touch connectionline being configured to connect the plurality of second touchelectrodes.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present disclosurewithout departing from the technical idea or scope of the disclosures.Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers themodifications and variations of this disclosure that come within thescope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patentapplications and non-patent publications referred to in thisspecification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet areincorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of theembodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of thevarious patents, applications and publications to provide yet furtherembodiments.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

1. A display device, comprising: a display panel comprising a displayarea and a non-display area; a plurality of first touch electrodesdisposed in the display area and arranged in a first direction; aplurality of second touch electrodes disposed in the display area andarranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; anda bridge portion disposed between two of the plurality of first touchelectrodes and including a first touch connection line configured toconnect the two of the plurality of first touch electrodes.
 2. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the bridge portion further includes asecond touch connection line configured to connect the plurality ofsecond touch electrodes.
 3. The display device of claim 2, wherein thefirst touch connection line and the second touch connection line aredisposed on different layers.
 4. The display device of claim 3, whereinthe second touch connection line is disposed on the same layer as theplurality of second touch electrodes.
 5. The display device of claim 3,wherein the first touch connection line of the bridge portion isdisposed on the same layer as the plurality of first touch electrodes.6. The display device of claim 5, wherein a width of the first touchconnection line in the second direction is equal to a width of theplurality of first touch electrodes.
 7. The display device of claim 5,wherein the first touch connection line is formed of the same materialand has the same shape as the plurality of first touch electrodes.
 8. Adisplay device, comprising: a plurality of light-emitting elementsdisposed in a display area; a plurality of signal lines disposed in anon-display area positioned outside the display area; an encapsulationpart disposed on the plurality of light-emitting elements and theplurality of signal lines; a plurality of first touch electrodesdisposed on the encapsulation part in the display area and arranged in afirst direction; a plurality of second touch electrodes disposed on theencapsulation part in the display area and arranged in a seconddirection perpendicular to the first direction; and a connection portiondisposed in a region between the plurality of first touch electrodes anda region between the plurality of second touch electrodes.
 9. Thedisplay device of claim 8, wherein the connection portion, whichintersects an outer peripheral line of the display area, is formed ofthe same material as the plurality of first touch electrodes.
 10. Thedisplay device of claim 9, wherein the connection portion is disposed onthe same layer as the plurality of first touch electrodes.
 11. Thedisplay device of claim 8, wherein adjacent electrode metals of theplurality of first touch electrodes extend and are connected to eachother in the connection portion that intersects an outer peripheral lineof the display area.
 12. The display device of claim 8, wherein theconnection portion further includes: a first touch connection lineconfigured to connect the plurality of first touch electrodes; and asecond touch connection line disposed on a layer different from a layeron which the first touch connection line is disposed, the second touchconnection line being configured to connect the plurality of secondtouch electrodes.
 13. A display panel, comprising: a plurality oflight-emitting elements disposed within a display area of the displaypanel; an encapsulation part arranged above the plurality oflight-emitting elements; a plurality of first touch electrodes disposedon the encapsulation part and arranged in a first direction; and anexpanded touch electrode arranged in the first direction andelectrically connected to at least one of the plurality of first touchelectrodes, the expanded touch electrode having a larger area than anyof the plurality of first touch electrodes, the expanded touch electrodebeing located at an outer peripheral portion of the display area. 14.The display panel of claim 13, wherein: the expanded touch electrodeoverlaps with a non-display area of the display panel.
 15. The displaypanel of claim 13, wherein: the expanded touch electrode is wider thanany of the plurality of first touch electrodes.
 16. The display panel ofclaim 13, wherein: a first voltage applied to the expanded touchelectrode is different from a second voltage applied to a second touchelectrode of the plurality of first touch electrodes.
 17. The displaypanel of claim 16, wherein: the first voltage applied to the expandedtouch electrode is determined based on an area of the expanded touchelectrode; and the second voltage applied to the second touch electrodeis determined based on an area of the second touch electrode.
 18. Thedisplay panel of claim 13, further comprising: a connection portiondisposed in a region between the expanded touch electrode and a secondtouch electrode of the plurality of first touch electrodes; and aconnection line within the connection portion electrically connectingthe expanded touch electrode and the second touch electrode.
 19. Thedisplay panel of claim 18, wherein: the connection line is disposedbelow the expanded touch electrode.
 20. The display panel of claim 13,wherein: the expanded touch electrode comprises an outermost peripheraltouch electrode within the display area of the display panel.